Combination fuel-lock.



A. A. KEPLER.

COMBINATION FUEL LOCK. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. I915. 1,1 1,390,- Patented May 2,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lfitter wags I THE COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPH CD WASMNGTON, D. c.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7 19-15.

Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AUGUSTUS A. KEPLER, 0F KENMORE, OHIO.

COMBINATION FUEL-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed June 7, 1915. Serial No. 32,626.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS A. KEPLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenmore, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Fuel-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for obstructing communication between the fuel tanks and carbureters of automobiles, motor boats, or any machines including these features in combination with an internal combustion engine, whereby the latter may not be run by unauthorized persons.

The object of the invention is not only to improve upon the construction of the cutoffdevices or valves, but upon the operating means therefor.

With the above in view, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts hereinafter fully claimed and described by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the fuel lock or valve and the actuating means therefor; Fig. 2 .is a horizontal section through the valve proper as seen on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the operating means; Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections as seen on the planes designated by the lines 4- 1, and 5-5 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of two adjustable keys yet to be described.

In this drawing which constitutes a part of the application, like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 having reference to the cylindrical valve casing having in one side aninletQ, while in one of its ends the outlet 3 is provided. Interposed between the inlet and outlet, and having their flat faces disposed in contact, is the series of valve disks 1, 4, 4 and 4: having respectively the ports P, 4:", 4 and P, whereby when all of said ports are alined, they may establish communication between the inlet 2 and outlet Disposed in contact with the exposed side of the innermost disk 4 is the ring 5 between which and the opposite end 6 of the casing, a coiled spring 7 is interposed, whereby the sprlng normally exerts its tension to force the rlng 5 toward the end of the casing havmg therein the outlet 3 thus retaining all of the disks 4 in frictional contact with each other. Necessarily, the ring 5 is locked against rotation by a set screw or the like 8, said rlng, however, being allowed the necessary movement toward and away from the valve disks.

The valve disks 4, 4t, 4 and 4 are provided respectively with operating shafts 9, 9, 9 and 9 these shafts being disposed within each other and increasing in length in the order mentioned, three shafts 9, 9 and 9 being of course tubular while the shaft 9 may be of solid construction, said shaft being shown in the present application as passed rotatably through a stuffing box 10 carried by the end 6 of the valve casing 1. The shafts 9, 9, 9 and 9 are provided respectively on their free ends with the actuating disks 9, 9*, 9, and 9, such disks being secured by set screws or the like to their respective shafts and being provided with pick up devices in the form of pins 11 projecting from their adjacent faces, whereby when the shaft 9 is rotated by means yet to be describedfirst in one direction a predetermined amount, then in a reverse direction, etc., the pick up devices 11 on the disk 9 will set in motion the disk 9, the latter of course rotating the shaft 9 and the valve disk 42, while the pick up devices on said disk 9 in turn actuates the disk 9", and finally the latter rotates the disk 9. It thus will be seen that all of the valve disks may be rotated at one time and in one direction, thus allowing the innermost disk 4 to be so set as to aline its port r with the inlet 2. Let us assume that in so setting the disk, the shaft 9 is rotated to the left. Rotation of said shaft to the right, to the necessary extent, will now so position the disk 4: as to aline its port 4 with the port 4 while the necessary rotation of the shaft next to the left, and then again to the right, will so shift the disks 4: and 1 as to aline their ports 4 and P with the ports previously alined, thereby establishing communication between the inlet 2 and outlet 3 and allowing the fuel to flow from the supply tank (not shown) to the carbureter (likewise not shown).

To prevent the several valve disks from being shifted out of position after they have once been set, one side of said disks is provided with the rounded projections 12 which are forced yieldably into rounded sockets on the contiguous faces of adjacent disks by the tension of the spring 7 the ring 5 being also provided with such rounded sockets for the retention of the projections 12 of the innermost disk 1. Since the disks 4, 4c, and 4- are set in the order in which they are mentioned the projections 12 of the former are larger than any of the other projections, while such projections gradually decrease in size from the disk a to disk 4. By this means, the existing friction between the projections 12 and the sockets in the ring 5 will be greater than that existing between the projections 12 of the disk l and the sockets of the disk 4, thus preventing said disk 1. from being rotated after once set, by adjustment of the disk at. The existing relation between the remaining projections 12 and the sockets engaged thereby is the same,

so further description is deemed unnecessary.

For the purpose of rotating the shaft 9 as necessary to aline the several ports, the

. supplemental shaft 13 is provided, such shaft being universally connected by the section 1st, to said shaft 9 and being pro vided on its free end with a hand wheel 15 wherein resides considerable novelty.

The hand wheel 15 comprises a fixed disklike section 16 having a central cavity into which a pair of removable keys 17 project, one of said keys having in its inner edge a V-shaped groove 18 while the other is provided with a V-shaped tooth 18. The two keys engage a toothed wheel 19 which is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the shaft 13. By this construction, the section 16 may be adjusted arcuately in respect to the shaft 13, a distance equal to one-half the width of the teeth of the wheel 19, by interchanging the two keys 17 or other required adjustments may be made by simply removing said keys and replacing the same, these adjustments being essential for reasons to become evident as the description proceeds.

Contacting with one fiat face of the section 16, is the disk-like indicator 20 which although capable of rotation independent of the shaft 13, normally rotates therewith, said indicator being provided on its exposed face with indicating characters 21 herein shown in the form of the numerals 12- 34l-5-67890. These numerals coact with the fixed indicator 22, mounted independently of the shaft 13 and the hand wheel 15, to indicate the position of the shaft 9 and to likewise provide means whereby said shaft may be rotated the proper amount to aline the several ports l -4. However, since the indicator 20 is free to move upon the shaft, it is evident that to persons unskilled in the operation of the device, the results desired cannot be obtained. Nevertheless, the legitimate operator is allowed through an opening 23 in the indicator 20 to view an arcuate series of indicating characters 2-1 on the section 16. By so doing, he can shift the indicator 20 into a predetermined relation in respect to the shaft 13, this relation being disclosed by the exposure of a predetermined character 24:

through the opening 23, such number being the first digit of the combination which, we will assume in the present application is 13765.

In order to actuate the device having the combination just given, it is first necessary to shift the indicator 20 upon the section 16 to an extent to allow numeral 4: to be exposed through the opening 23. The entire hand-wheel 15 is now rotated until 8 (the second number of the combination) is disposed at the indicator 22. Three revolutions of the entire wheel to the left, will now aline the port P with the inlet 2. Next turn the entire wheel until 7 (the third number of the combination) is at the pointer 22 and rotate said wheel two revolutions to the right, thereby alining the port 1 with a The next move is to turn the entire wheel to position 6 (the fourth member of the combination) under the pointer and to then give said wheel one revolution to the left, thus bringing the port 4 into alinement with 4e and 4:. Now move the wheel until 5 (the last number of thecombination) is at the indicator, thereby properly alining the port fh with the remaining alined portions, and finally turning the indicator 20 either to the right or to the left to expose some other number than 4:, the latter being the starting number of the combination.

The preceding explanation is merely given as an example of the manner in which the device is to be operated, it being evident that a vast number of combinations may be effected by adjustment of the handle section 16 upon the toothed wheel 19 as hereinbefore set forth. Furthermore, by adjusting the disks 9*, 9, 9 and 9 arcuately upon their respective shafts, still further combinations may be had, said shafts being preferably provided with the circumferen it will be evident that although comparatively simple construction has been provided for carrying out the obj ectsof the invention, the device will be very efficient in operation and will possess a number of advantages.

In the drawings certain specific details of construction have been shown for accomplishing probably the best results, and in the preceding such details have been described, but it will be evident that I need not be limited thereto otherwise than to the extent to which the appended claims restrict me.

I claim:

1. In combination, a shaft to be rotated a predetermined amount, a pair of disk-like hand-grips on said shaft, one being secured thereto and the other being rotatable thereon, and arcuate series of indicating characters on the two grips, one grip having therein an opening through which the characters on the other member are displayed when the one member is rotated independently of the other.

2. In combination, a shaft to be rotated, a toothed wheel secured on said shaft, a hand wheel member having teeth engaging the toothed wheel, whereby the latter and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

the hand wheel member may be adjusted arcuately independently of each other, an indicator member rotatable on the shaft but capable of rotation therewith, and means for indicating the relation of the indicator in respect to the hand member.

3. In combination, a series of axially alined valve disks adapted to be set at a predetermined position to establish communication between two passages, means for setting said disks successively from one end of the series to the other, a comparatively strong friction device for locking the disk first set against movement, and additional friction locking devices interposed between the numerous disks, cooperating therewith, and decreasing in strength in the order in which said disks are set, whereby after each disk has been set, it will not be moved by setting of the next disk.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTUS A. KEPLER.

Witnesses.

JOHN E. STEVENSON, CLYDE F. BEERY. 

